Gate-latch.



PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907.-

G. E. WILLIAMS.

GATE LATCH APPLICATION FILED 00T.16. 1906.

Warn 74 THE NORRIS PETERS 60., WASHINGTON D c.

CHARLES ERNEST WILLIAMS, OF MONESSEN, PENNSYLVANIA.

GATE-LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1907.

Application filed October 16, 1906. Serial No. 339,206.

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES ERNEST VVIL- LIAMS, a citizen of the United States of Amer-. ica, residing at Monessen, in the county of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate-Latches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in latches for gates or swinging partitions, and has for its primary object to provide a latch which will be positive in its operation and free from danger of being injured by ordinary use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive gate-latch that can be easily and quickly manipulated to release a gate held by said latch.

With these and other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and then specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this specification, like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a plan of my improved latch as carried by a fence-post. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the latch members of my improved latch. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional View of the latch-housing. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the spring usedin connection with the same. Fig. 7 is an elevation of one-of the pivoted pins of my improved latch, this view also illustrating cross-sections of the pin; and Fig. 8 is a front elevation of my improved latch as carried by a fence-post, one of the latch members thereof being removed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a conventional form of fence-post 1, which is preferably T-shaped in crosssection, the rails or framework 2 of the fence being suitably secured to the post 1. In connection with the post I have illustrated a portion of a swinging gate 3, adapted to be locked in engagement with the post 1.

My invention resides in providing a post with a latch-housing consisting of a postplate 4, having side flanges 5 to engage the edges of the post 1. The plate 4 at its upper and lower edges is secured to the post 1 byv screw-bolts 6 and nuts 7, although other fastening means can be used for securing the plate to the post. Extending outwardly from the plate 4 adjacent to its upper and lower edges are flanges 8 and 9, the flange 8 being braced and supported by a web 10, this also being true of the flange 9. The flange 9 protrudes slightly beyond the flange 8 and is provided with two beveled surfaces 11, converging upwardly toward the center of the flange9. The object of the beveled faces 1 1. will be presently described.

The ends of the flanges 8 and 9 are provided with openings 12 and 14, the openings 14 being of a greater diameter than the openings 12. Pivotally mounted between the ends of the flanges 8 and 9 are two latch members 15, pins 16 being employed for this purpose. The upper end of each pin is provided with a handle l7,whereby the pin can be easily rotated, and intermediate the ends of said pins I form the same oval or elliptical in cross-section, as at 18. Themajor axis of the elliptical portion of the pin corresponds to the diameter of the upper cylindrical portion 19 of the pin, while the lower end of said pin is contracted, as at 20, with the diameter equivalent to the minor axis of the elliptical portion 18 of the pin. The pins 16 are adapted to extend through the openings 14 and 12 and through an oval opening 21, formed in the latch members 15. l The pins 16 may be suitably locked within their respective openings by keys 22 or similar fastening means.

The latch members 15 conform substantially to the knuckles of car-couplers, being provided with locking-faces 23 and beveled faces 24. The latch members are also formed with angularly-disposed flanges 25, forming stops adapted to engage the flanges 5 of the plate 4 and limit the outward move ment of said latch members. To maintain the latch members in an extended position, (shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings,) I employ a spring 26, the ends 27 of which are bentto engage the rear faces 28 of the latch members, while the body 29 of the spring is provided with openings 30 to receive lugs 31, carried by the plate 4.

When a gate is to be used in connection with my improved latch, the same is provided with a projection 32, adapted to strike the beveled faces 24 of the latch members when IIO the gate is to be closed and temporarily locked in engagement with the post 1. When the projection 32 of the gate 3 strikes one of the beveled faces 24 of the latch members 15, the latch member engaged is forced inwardly, compressing one of the springs 27. Immediately upon the projection 32 having passed the beveled surface of the latch member the latter returns to its normal position, locking the projection 32 of the gate 3 between the locking-surface 23 of the latch members.

To swing the gate 3 in either direction, the latch upon the side of the gate in the direction to which it is to be swung is manipulated by moving the handle 17 of the pin 16. Through the medium of said handle the latch member can be swung inwardly to release the gate in the desired direction, and when the handle 17 is released the latch member will be returned to its normal position by the spring 27.

My invention particularly resides in the novel form of latch members, together with the means employed in connection with each for limiting their movement, also the novel manner of pivotally mounting the latch members in their housings and a spring for normally holding the latch members in an eX- tended position.

It is-a well-known fact that gates or similar swinging partitions sag or become out of alinement with the fence-posts to which they are to be temporarily held in engagement therewith. For this reason I have provided the flange 9 with the beveled surfaces 11, whereby the projection 32 of the gate 3 can ride upwardly into engagement with the latch members 15 from either direction to which it may be swung.

It is obvious that my improved gate-latch can be used in connection with other types of fence-posts than that disclosed, and I desire it to be understood that such changes in the size and minor details of construction as are permissible by the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a fence-post, of a latch-housing secured to said 0st, outwardly-extending flanges carried by said housing, one of said flanges being beveled and protruding beyond the other of said flanges, latch members pivotally mounted between the ends of said flanges and having beveled surfaces, pins extending through said latch members and adapted to rotate therewith, handles carried by said pins, rearwardly-extending flanges carried by said latch members and adapted to limit the outward movement of the latch members, and a spring detachably secured in said housing and having its ends bearing against the rear faces of said latch members, substantially as described.

2. In a gate-latch, the combination of a latch-housing embodying a back plate and two forwardly projecting flanges spaced from each other and the lower of which is provided with beveled surfaces converging toward the center of the flange, pins revolubly mounted in said flanges, latch members hung on said pins between the flanges to be moved as the pins are operated and provided with stops for limiting the movement of the latch members in one direction, and means for holding the latch members normally projected so that their stops engage said back plate.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES ERNEST WILLIAMS.

WVitnesses ELsrE MARTZ, ELI H. Tom. 

